The benefits of the Mediterranean Diet are often praised by doctors and the media alike. That said, with so many different diet plans available to the modern eater, it can sometimes be rather hard to know which one will serve you the best. Is this the choice you should be making, or is there something else you should be considering as your own eating style over the long term?
The Importance of Individual Needs
It seems as though every single person on the planet has the right answer, though obesity has not yet been eradicated from the population. How well our bodies function depends not on the unsolicited advice of fad dieters but instead on hard science. It turns out that there are some pretty awesome benefits of the Mediterranean Diet that you need to know about.
What’s important to note is that those advantages aren’t just about weight. Controlling weight can occur when it is followed over time, but the good side of this eating strategy is far more wide-reaching.
What Is the Mediterranean Diet, Anyway?
In order to get all the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet, you will first need to know what it is. It consists of foods like fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and seeds, olive oils, and pastas. It calls for foods that are classic and traditional, and it is best when served using whole and/or organic foods. When it is followed correctly and combined with a healthy and active lifestyle, it can seriously improve your overall physical and mental condition.
Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
This diet will change your life, and there are numerous studies to back up its claims. The following are just a few of the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet. Decide for yourself.
- Reduces the risk of developing heart disease
2. Aids in the reduction of certain cancers
3. Helps manage diabetes
4. Reduces the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease
5. Makes Alzheimer’s much less likely
As if the five benefits of the Mediterranean Diet listed above were not enough, there is more. The diet can actually help to alleviate high blood pressure as well. On top of that, it can even extend your longevity, making you live a longer, happier, and healthier life. Oh yeah, and it can help you manage your weight as well.
Of course, these benefits of the Mediterranean Diet are all measured from having eaten in this style over the long term. This doesn’t mean that someone who has followed it for a couple of weeks won’t enjoy advantages from good nutrition. However, for the true balance in weight, medical risk reductions and other broader advantages, the key is to work it into your lifestyle permanently. On the average day, this will be the type of meal you consume.
The Modern Western Diet Problem
Most of today’s Western diets comprise rather unhealthy, highly processed foods. Although the options given can be convenient, it can still eventually lead to some serious health problems. With heart disease being one of the world’s leading causes of death, it only makes sense for people to do whatever they can to understand and utilize the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet.
What Do the Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet Mean for You?
Talk to your doctor or with a certified nutritionist for more information or to structure a diet plan that is just right for you. Not all diets are created equally, so choose yours wisely. Just remember that an unhealthy eating habit can ultimately lead to even greater problems. Indeed, this may mean that the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet are appropriate for you and this is the eating style best suited to your health.
That said, it will only be advantageous to you if it is something you will be able to adopt and continue following over the long term. After all, the reason that this diet has benefitted people who live in the Mediterranean region of the world is that it’s their traditional way of eating every day. Yes, they have their occasional treats and their massive, calorie-packed feasts. However, for the majority of the rest of their lives, this is how they eat.
If you’re only planning to have the occasional meal in this style now and then, you’re not really following the Mediterranean Diet. You’re having a Mediterranean meal. Certainly, it won’t hurt, but it won’t provide you with the overall benefits associated with having it on most days. Therefore, the key is to work with your doctor to discover the type of eating style that is best suited to your lifestyle, the foods you like, and your unique body type and medical needs.